Taking a Stand against Iran

New Canadian legislation provides a template for how to hold Iran accountable for its genocidal threats.

Irwin Cotler, the former minister of justice and attorney general of Canada, member of Canadian parliament and co-author of this piece, has introduced legislation in Canadian parliament called the "Iran Accountability Act." While it expressly holds Iran to account – for its genocidal threats, nuclear ambitions and domestic repressions – it can also function to hold any signatory to the Genocide Convention to account.

All signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention (including the United States) have a responsibility to prevent genocide – and to punish incitement to genocide – that they have largely ignored in the case of the world's greatest threat. The IAA, while a Canadian initiative, is a template model as to how to fulfill these responsibilities and take a stand against Iranian criminal actions.

We were in Geneva when the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stepped to the podium at the United Nations and delivered an address at a conference ostensibly aimed at fighting racism. With that speech – fettered with anti-Semitic comments and rooted in the very intolerance the Durban Review Conference was supposed to be combating, the whole delivered on the day of Holocaust remembrance in Geneva – the use and abuse of the United Nations reached a new, shameful low.

Ahmadinejad belongs in the docket of the accused, not the podium of the United Nations.

President Ahmadinejad is a man who incites to hatred and genocide in violation of the Genocide Convention's prohibition; who is engaged in the massive repression of the rights of his own people – particularly the Baha'i religious minority of Iran; who pursues the most destructive of weaponry in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions; who is complicit in crimes against humanity through genocidal terrorist proxies; who assaults the basic tenet of the UN Charter; who presides, as president, over the parading in the streets of Teheran of a Shahab-3 missile draped in the emblem "Wipe Israel off the Map" while exhorting the masses with cries of "Death to Israel"; who denies the Holocaust as he incites to a new one; who warns Muslims that if they recognize Israel, they will burn in the umma of Islam; and who has used the podium of the United Nations General Assembly to invoke classic anti-Semitic tropes reminiscent of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Such a person belongs in the docket of the accused, not the podium of the United Nations.

And yet the danger of a genocidal, nuclear and rights-violating Iran did not begin with President Ahmadinejad and will not end simply with the completion of his tenure. The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that "it is the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region."

Indeed, when he delivered his most infamous incitement – that Israel should be "wiped off the map" – President Ahmadinejad made it clear that he was simply repeating what "the Imam said" – at once grounding his hateful prescription in the words of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and invoking religion to confirm the obligation.

Let us be clear, however, that the great civilization of Iran – and the people of Iran – are not the ones targeted by this legislation. To the contrary, the bill takes as its premise that these peoples are increasingly the object of Iran's human rights violations. It is in their best interest that the international community hold Iran's leaders to account.

As Edmond Burke cautioned, it is clear that this evil will triumph unless good people do something to stop it. This template Iran Accountability Act would ensure precisely that.

The IAA divests Canada from investment in Iran. It establishes a mechanism to monitor incitement to hate in Iran, and would render the most virulent inciters inadmissible to Canada. It freezes the assets of those that contribute to Iran's nuclear or military infrastructure – as well as its machinery of hate. It uses the framework of the international community – Canada's bilateral relationships and the United Nations – to bring Iran to justice through recognized principles of international law. And, similar to a recent American legislative proposal, it targets Iran's dependence on imported petroleum – so long as the incitement continues.

The IAA makes it clear that diplomacy targeted solely at Iran's nuclear threat mistakenly ignores the terrifying and vilifying context in which that threat operates and, however inadvertently, sanitizes the genocidal incitement at its core.

We hope that the US government and Congress look closely at this bill. A dual statement from both Canada and the United States would send a clear signal to Iran that while we are open to engagement, we will not acquiesce in incitement to genocide and other crimes against humanity.

Irwin Cotler, a Montreal MP, is the former minister of justice and attorney general of Canada. Alan Dershowitz is Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard University.

Visitor Comments: 9

(9)
deborah Bach,
July 2, 2009 4:52 AM

"engagement"

The need for engagement is not that Ahmadinajad deserves a chance, but that the free world prefers to maintain it's clear moral position and create the largest possible coalition to save the maximum number of lives.

(8)
Anonymous,
June 29, 2009 4:59 AM

Proud Canuck

I am so very profoundly proud to be a Canadian.
Our hugest export, world-wide, is Human Rights.
Standing by the Democratic State of Israel, and encouraging Nations to seek peace at home, rather than spending wealth to terrorize their own valiant people, and obsessing over Israel and the Jews, says everything about Canada and its' traditions and peoples.
We have within our population peoples who come from every corner of the world. The hope is that the totalitarian mindset, and the oppression of women which some cultures abide by, is updated, on Canadian soil, to a humanistic viewpoint and compassionate understanding to what it is to be a citizen and member of the human species.
I am proud that Professors Dershowitz and Cutler, are contributing so generously to this process, and thus enriching North American society by their talents.

(7)
Anonymous,
June 18, 2009 3:13 PM

in response to comment 6

millions - unless it is billions. please notice that the second world war killed about 70 million people worldwide everyone included, the third world will be exponentially worse, as einstein said the third world war will be fought with nukes - the fourth with sticks and stones

(6)
Stuart,
June 17, 2009 6:50 PM

This is not the Answer

Perhaps in the world of Messieurs. Dershowitz and Cotler, words and sanctions have meaning. The Iranian leadership does not seem to care about these things. Look a their economy considering all that oil money. No, the only thing that the mullahs understand is force. Wordssantiions and agreements do not work with tyrants. They did not work with Germany or the Soviets. They are not working with the North Koreans or the Sudanese. When will we learn? How many will needlessly die because we are so civilized?

(5)
Menashe,
June 16, 2009 4:22 AM

Arab-Iranians?

The Persians (Iranians) are a totally different race than Arabs. If you want to aggravate a Persian call them an Arab. This type of mistake shows how the west is so out of touch/ ignorant with things here in the middle east and how useless it is to assume that countries like Iran will comply with the legal framework of the west. Like Hitler they will just go ahead and do it anyway. To this end I would apply the 11th commandment: 'do it to them (Iran) before they do it to us (Jews)'

(4)
Kat,
June 16, 2009 12:09 AM

Threats of genocide to one class or race....

eventually creates the internal need of another class or race of people, nationalities, etc...to want to commit that genocide first and I am glad that Canadian government finally stepped up and said something that makes more sense than citizens alone trying to fight it. This is how it affects the public. If he wants all the jews dead and continues to say it...then others want to genocide his people first, etc...its a raging tide of violence coming if someone does not stop him/them. If he nukes Israel, all their neighbors will also pay the price, and everywhere the wind blows and wherever he misses.

(3)
ruth housman,
June 15, 2009 3:49 PM

the Canadian initiative

I totally agree with everything you have written and hope, as you do, that this bill will be given the attention it so deserves.

(2)
Jan,
June 15, 2009 9:00 AM

Thank you, Canada!

I am a Canadian and I have seen several times over the last couple of years, Canada step up and support Israel when others have not. I continue to pray for Israel and for strength for my countries leaders to stand with her.

(1)
Rosen,
June 14, 2009 7:22 PM

Jews and Arab-Iranians uniting?

With the recent upset of the likely fixed election results in Iran, I can probably see at least one issue that both Jews and Arab-Iranians can agree upon and that is for Achmedinijad to step down. We may start to be seeing the moderate Muslims and Arabs breaking out of their shells and coming out of the closet to speak out against a dictator who intends on "wiping Israel off the map".

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
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